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My 55 Task force has a 350/th350 that the po installed. I recently replaced the intake/valve cover gaskets. following this the starter began grinding when I attmepted to start. I replaced the starter assuming the problem was with the starter, it still grinds. The flywheel appears to be in good condition and it is not loose. I even tried adding shims (I have never had to do this with a sbc) to the starter, it still grinds. Help, what am I missing. John

Big John,

I've been thru this very same stuff these days. It was on a 250 with a stick trans. I swapped the engine and changed the flywheel, and the one that remained in the engine was clearly worn. So the noise was no good. There was too much distance between the starter gear and the ring. So I put a washer just on the outter bolt, that makes the distance smaller. The nois went away. Tried twice before reaching the right size. If You put a spacer thru the hole starter, it will just set it even farther from the ring so it'll sound worse.
Loose the starter, remove the shims, and put a washer only in the bolt that's farther apart from the crankshaft.
Good luck

Alexandre,
Thanks for the tip, I will try it tomorrow. John

You're wellcome, fellow!

Alexandre, no luck. I tried adding a washer and the starter starter still made the grinding noise. I added one, two and a third, which practically had the starter touching the flywheel. Oh well back to the drawing board. John

There is a "tool" to space the starter. It is a 1/8" rod. You slide it in between the flywheel & bendix shaft. They used to come in starters and shim kits. Loosen the inner bolt and remove the outer one to slide the shims between the starter & block. Adjust until the rod slides into the gap with a little resistance, but do not force it, add a shim they come in assorted sizes. Instructions are also on the package. The last one I bought was about $3.
Brad

Big John,

Sorry to hear it man, now things are getting more difficult. Once You shimmed it and put washers in a way to bring it closer and no succes, all You can do before removing it all and changing the flexplate is try to do what brsdb suggested, get the shim kit with the proper rod and try to see what's going on. If nothing wrong shows up, sorry, I really feel You should have to swap the flexplate as it may be faulty. By the way did You checked all the flexplate? may have some spoiled tooth in a part of it only, not all the way.

Maybe I am missing something here. Is the starter grinding because the teeth on the flywheel are damaged or because the Starter bendix isn't fully engaging the flywheel. When I say isn't fully engaging I mean the bendix isn't extending completely and the starter bedix is not meshing with the flywheel. If this is happening the grinding is the to gears grinding face to face. If this is the case it maybe an electrical problem, not enough of it. You may want to check your ground cables.
This is just a thought since the starter was working fine before the gasket change. You may want to pull your cables and clean the ends. Or just replace the cables if they are old.

Good luck

Thanks Brian I will try the ground. The flexplate does not appear to be damaged. I have installed two brand new starters that are grinding just like the old one did, which resulted in me replacing it. So odds are it is not the starter and since there are no teeth missing from the flexplate I will need to start eliminating other possibilities.